RPW Exclusive: A Multitude Of Factors Forces Chad Pierce To Step Away From The Sport He Loves

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – EAGLE BRIDGE, NY – Last Sunday, while flipping through Facebook, I stumbled on something that surprised me. Chad Pierce, who races in the 358-Modified division at Lebanon Valley Speedway, had placed his PMC Race Car online for sale.

I immediately texted him to see what was going on. Was he putting it out there so he could upgrade? Had something transpired that was forcing him to leave the driver seat?

All I got back was a four-letter word, in all caps, which made my heart sink. “DONE”

The next thought that ran through my mind was his father’s health. Last year, about this time, his dad, Lebanon Valley & New York State Stock Car Association Hall Of Famer Peanut Pierce, had been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer (Esophagus). Had something changed?

“No, dad is fine, and actually doing very well,” Pierce said. “We’ve just had enough. We might try and finish out the year, but we’re not quite sure yet.”

The question that I’m sure many of you may be wondering about is why. Why now? Why step away? Well, some may be surprised to know the answer, but some may not.

“It’s been coming for a while now,” he said. “The team and I have talked about it and we’re just so over the drama and politics that are going on nowadays. It’s not really just one thing, its all of it really.”

When pressed on what he meant by ‘politics,’ Pierce was very straight-forward and didn’t hold anything back.

“We are a small-funded father / son team and I just feel we can’t compete in the Small Block class in it’s current state,” he said. “I’m too competitive to run 15th anymore. I’m simple and never majored in drama when I was in school. My parents, my family and my team deserve more than this.”

Pierce has become very disheartened with the way the state of his class, the 358-Modifieds, has become at the Valley over the last couple of years.

“I grew up at Lebanon Valley,” he said. “It’s like a second home to me and I cherish all of my memories from there. Hell, I bring my boys there every week to race karts and flag the events. I know tracks show favoritism and there are politics everywhere you go, but with long straightaways and the high banks at Lebanon, it’s more prevalent. I’m sorry but it’s true. I’m not going to sugarcoat it.”

Family values are very important to Chad and his team. His parents, Peanut and June, brought him up to show respect, and now, he and his wife, Sandra, do the same with their two kids, Jaden and Carter. That’s been a staple of the Pierce family for generations.

“My parents raised me to treat others the way I wish to be treated and to follow the rules,” he said. “When you are on the inside of the track, you hear and see a lot. You formulate your own ideas and I don’t like where things are going. For us, right now, I feel it’s best to walk away. I am who I am on and off the track and don’t want to change.”

Walking away from racing was an extremely hard decision for Pierce and his family to make. Not only is Chad a former track champion at the Valley, but his father has been a car owner for several drivers…some of which are also Hall of Famers. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t remember the ‘Peanut Special,’ but for this father & son team, enough is enough.

“To be able to drive a Dirt Modified has been a dream come true,” he said. “I have met some incredible people that will forever be lifelong friends. Many have been there and supported my family, my team and my sponsors. That has meant the world to me, but when you know you’re getting beat before you drive into the track, it’s time to do something else.”

Is Chad doing this to try and make a point? It’s really hard to say, but with his team’s performance this year, you can see why everyone on the crew would be frustrated.

“This year has been trying for my team,” he said. “We’ve had more issues than in past years. We’ve run good at times, but haven’t been able to complete those good runs. I would like to think people would notice us not being there and understand where we’re coming from. However, if I don’t show up Saturday, the races will still go on, so it really doesn’t matter.”

If his CP Racing #83 isn’t in the pits on Saturday, and the officials do notice, what does he want them to realize about his decision?

“I hope they see that they need to focus more on tech and be consistent with their calls and the rules,” he said. “Then, I believe they will get more cars rather than lose them. I love racing and always will, but I can’t compete the way things are now, and that’s very unfortunate.”

For Chad Pierce, this was probably one of the most difficult decisions he’s ever had to make. He’s grown up in this sport. He’s lived most of his life at the dirt track, wiping dirt from his eyes and washing fumes out of his clothes. He’s teaching his son’s the same lifestyle, and life lessons, but as of Sunday afternoon, the final finish line has come into focus.

“I would love to complete this year for my dad,” he said. But the track makes it difficult sometimes. It’s hard when you love something so much, but you can see that to be competitive, you have to go against everything you were taught since you were a kid. I don’t know if I can do that.”